Single piece partitioned crate



W. F. DALEY SINGLE PIECE PARTITIONED CRATE 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 15 INVENTOR- WaiirFDa Ze y BY QM I ATTORNEY- Patented 10, 1935UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SINGLE rmcn rsn'rrrroman cm'rs ApplicationMarch 15, 1933, Serial No. 680,837

14 Claims. (01. 229-27) This invention relates to containers and cratesand more particularly to cardboard berry crates for shipping small berrybaskets or other articles, though it is noted that in some of the claimsthe invention is not limited to crates for baskets or separate articles,nor even to cardboard containers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved crate of this kindwhich may be shipped to the packer as a flat cardboard blank adapted tobe easily and quickly erected, and closed, and secured with the basketsor articles thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wellventilated crate oi thiskind which cooperates with the baskets thereinto strengthen the crate.

Other objects of-the invention are to improve generally the simplicity,strength and efilciency of such crates and to provide an extremelysimple crate of this kind which is durable, and reliable in use, easy topack, and economical to manufacture and ship.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in thespecification and some of the claims, the invention is not limited tothese, since many and various changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objectsare shown herein in connection with a berry crate which briefly stated,includes end walls ioldably joining the ends of a rectangular bottom,each end wall having at each end edge a connecting flap comprising amain portion and a lower narrow extension having an upright narrow slotleaving a connecting portion adapted to be interlocked in the slot ofthe other extension at the same side of the bottom.

Two or more of said extensions are intermediately folded to formtransverse partition members between which baskets are disposed. Ahorizontal partition on said members supports two horizontal rows oi?baskets.

A side wall joining each side of the bottom against adjacent connectingflaps carries at its free edge a cover member half the width of thebottom. Downturned tucking flaps joining the free edges of the covermembers respectively are disposed face to face between said rows ofbaskets, and each is provided with an end notch, each end wall beingslit to form a tongue'adapted to be pressed inwardly into the adjacentnotches to lock the tucking flaps in place.

While in this specification and claimsv mention is made of materials andof the bottom, top, ends and sides of the devices and it t stated thatone partis moved toward the other rather than vice versa and that partsare foldably joined by score lines, it is understood that these wordsare used for designation and description and that for purposes ofprotection they are to be construed broadly enough to cover otherrelative.arrange-. ments, dimensions or positions than as'shown, and tocover when parts are, connected, by. other than score lines, and ingeneral all terms ot'the claims are to be given, for the purposes .01'pr'otection, broad interpretation when'pcs'sible.

In the accompanying drawings showing, by way of. example, two of manypossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a Iragmental perspective view showing the crate partly open,this crate being adapted to hold twelve baskets;

Fig. 2 is a plan or face .view showing the cut and scored unfolded blankfrom which the crat of Figs. 1 and 3 to 'l is erected;

5 Fig. 3 is a plan showing the crate with side walls still flat andunerected;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the crate as in Fig. 3, with sidewalls unerected;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the crate with one tucking flap readyto be tucked;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing the crate entirely closed; Fig. 7 isa sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6,looking'in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 8 is a similar horizontal sectional view showing a modified formoi. crate adapted to hold sixteen berry baskets; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a de tail of said form ofFig. 8.

My improved berry crate comprises a one piece blank (Fig. 2) cut andscored to form a rectangular bottom portion l0 and end wall portions I Iioldably joining the endsof the body portion at a as long as the bottomportion, and an interlocking extension l1 about half the height of themain portion and adapted, as will be explained, to stand against theinner face of the other main portion on the same side edge of the bottomIt. Each extension is provided at its juncture with the main portionwith an upright narrow slot 18 or I 9 extending about half through theextension leaving a connecting portion 20, extensions H at the same sideedge of the ends being'slotted from the bottom and, top edgesrespectively, whereby the connecting portion 20 of one may be receivedin the slot It or I! of the other as shown in Fig. 1, whereby theconnecting flaps at one side edge of the bottom portion may be crossedand interlocked and both lie against the inner face of an adjacent mainflap portion it.

According to the species of Fig. '1, each of said extensions isintermediately folded on a vertical fold line 23 to form a transversepartition member 24, these members extending half across the bottomportion 10 almost into contact with similar members extending from theopposite side edge of the bottom portion, thereby forming threetransverse compartments 25 each adapted to receive two berry baskets 26or the like, aiding to hold the extension 24 in place. However, thecrates may be used for other articles and for material not in baskets. g

If a longer crate is desired, as in Fig. 8, extensions l1 at one side,or if desired at diagonally opposite quarters of the crate may be foldedand extended entirely across the plate to form long partitions 24',cooperating with a longitudinal separator 21, and an extra if desired, aseparate mid-partition 21' to form eight compartments 25. The separator21 and said partitions are notched and interlocked as at 29, 29', Fig.9. The remaining extensions [1? may extend along the adjacent mainportion it any desired distance.

The partition members 24 or 24', 21 and 21' are adapted to support ahorizontal floor partition 28 adapted also to receive three or fourpairs of similarly arranged baskets 26 (Fig. 6) thereon, so

" as to form two longitudinal rows.

A side wall portion 30 foldably joining each side edge of the bottomportion at a fold line 3| is adapted to erect to form a side wall 30disposed against adjacent connecting flaps l6, l1, and carrying a covermember 33 foldably joining the free edge of the side wall portion and ofthe same length as said bottom and half the width thereof and eachdisposable over the adjacent longitudiing provided with registeringend-edge notches 35 each having an upwardly faced inwardly inclinedlower shoulder 36. Each'end wall H is provided, adjacent to said notches35 with a U-shaped slit 31 forming downwardly pointed locking tongue 8adapted to be pressed inwardly into the adjacent notches 35 and having ablunt lower edge engageable over said inclined shoulders 36 to hold thetongues in the notches and the tucking flaps locked in place.

Said bottom portion, end walls, side walls, connecting flaps and covermembers are provided with ventilating openings 40, 4|, 42, 43, theopenings 42, 43 of the side walls 30 and connecting aoeasrs flaps l8, l1registering with each other. The openings 40, 4| in the bottom portion,top members and end wall are round, the round openings 4! in the endwalls being adapted to serve as handles for lifting the crates and forpassing the 5 fingers to the inside face of'the tongues 38 to retractthe latter from the notches 35.

While the cover flaps l3 ordinarily lie on top of the baskets and helpto position the tucking flaps 34, it is noted that they may be turneddown 10 into engagement with the notches 36 to hold down the tuckingflaps if there are no baskets in the crate to position the tucking flapsin alinement with the tongues 38. Thus it is seen that the crates may,if desired, be used for material not 15 in baskets.

The blanks as in Fig. 2 may be cut from stock in staggered arrangementso as to waste little board.

The blanks may be shipped flat to the pack- 20 ers and quickly erectedby erecting the end walls, interlocking the extensions I1 with theparti-' tions 24 disposed inward. Then the baskets are put in place, asin Fig. 6, the cover flaps I3 bent over as in Fig. 3, the side wallsbrought up and 26 the tucking flaps tucked in as in Fig. 5; and then thetongues 38 are pushed into the notches 35. The crate may be unfolded inreverse manner.

The crate is inherently strong and durable; and the baskets, tuckingflaps 34, connecting so flaps, and partitions 24 all cooperate toincrease the strength, so that the durability of the crate in shippingis great.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining theends of the bottom, each having at its end edges a connecting flap eachhaving a lower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at thesame side of the bottom; transverse partition-forming members 40 on saidadjacent extensions and infolded across said bottom; a side wall joiningeach side of the bottom exterior to and against adjacent connectingflaps; a cover member joining the side wall of half the width of thebottom; a downturned 5 tucking flap joining each cover member; and meansholding the tucking flaps in place.

2. A berry crate comprising a one piece blank cut and scored to form arectangular bottom portion; end wall portions foldably joining the 5:)ends of the body portion and adapted to be erected to form upright endwalls, each provided at its top edge with a pair of slightly separatedinwardly foldable cover flaps; each end wall being provided at eachupright end edge with an inwardly turned connecting flap, eachcomprising a large main portion as high as the end wall, and about halfas long as the bottom portion, and an interlocking extension about halfthe height of the main portion and adapted to lie on against the innerface of other main portion at the same side of the bottom and providedat its juncture with the main portion with an upright narrow slotextending about half through the extension leaving a connecting portion,adjacent extensions being respectively slotted from the bottom and topedges, whereby the connecting portion of one may be received in the slotof the other, whereby the connecting flaps at one side edge of thebottom portion may be crossed 70 and both lie against the inner face ofthe adjacent main flap portion; each of said exten sions beingintermediately folded on a vertical fold line to form transversepartition members; a. side wall joining .each side of the bottom por- 75tion exterior to and against adjacent connecting flaps; a cover memberjoining the side wall of half the width of the bottom; and means holdingthe cover members in place.

3. A crate comprising a bottom; and end walls joining the ends 01. thebottom, each having at its end edges gconnecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side ofthe bottom; said extenslons being intermediately folded to form atransverse partition member extending half way across said bottom; and ahorizontal floor partition on, the members.

4. A 'crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom; each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side ofthe bottom; a side wall joining each side of the bottom exterior to andagainst adjacent connecting flaps; a cover member joining the side wallof half the width of the bottom; a down-turned tucking flap joining eachcover member; each extension being inwardly folded to form transversepartition member almost into contact with similar members extending fromthe opposite side edge of the bottom portion, thereby forming threetransverse compartments each adapted to receive two baskets aiding tohold the extension in place.

5. A crate comprising a bottom; and end walls joining the ends of thebottom, each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side ofthe bottom; one or more of said extensions being intermediately foldedto form a transverse partition member extending entirely across thebottom.

6. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom, each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the same sideof the bottom; each of said extensions having a transversepartitionforming member thereon, said partition-forming members beingtransversely infolded across said bottom and a side wall joining eachside of the bottom exterior to and against adjacent connecting flaps;said side walls and flaps having registering ventilating openings.

7. In combination, a crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining theends of the bottom, each having at its end-edges a connecting flap; eachflap having a lower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension atthe side of the bottom; transverse partition-forming members on saidadjacent extensions and transversely in-- folded across said bottom; aside wall joining each side of the bottom exteriortoandagainstadjacentconnecting flaps; a cover member joining the side wall of half thewidth'of the bottom; a down-tumed tuckingflap joining each cover member;separated, inwardly foldable cover flaps on the ends: of said end wallsadapted toengage and hold said cover tuck flaps; said bottom, end walls,side walls, connecting'flaps and cover members being provided withventilating openings, the openings ,of the side walls and connectingflaps registering with each other; the openings in the bottomportion,endwalls and top members being round, the round openings in the endwalls being adapted to serve as handles for lifting the crates.

8. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom; each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side ofthe bottomand inwardly bent to form partition members; a side walljoining each side of the bottom exterior to and against adjacentconnecting flaps; a cover member joining each side wall and of half thewidth of the bottom; a horizontal floor partition on said partitionmembers adapted to receive three pairs of baskets thereon; sidewallportion foldabiy joining each side edge of the portion and adapted to beerected in to form a side wall disposed against adjacent connectingflaps; acover member toldably joining the side wall portion, of the samelength as said bottom and half the width thereof and each disposableover the adjacent longitudinal top 13 row of baskets; and a tucking.flap foldably joining the free edge of each cover member, the tuckingflaps being disposable face to face between said rows.

9. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom; a sidewall joining each side 01' the bottom; a cover member halfthe width of the bottom joining the free edge of each side wall;downturned tucking flaps joining the free edge of the cover membersrespectively and disposed face to face with each other and each providedwith an end notch; each end wall being slit to form a tongue adapted tobe pressed inwardly into the adjacent notches, the end walls havingholes adjacent to the tongues for insert- :3 ing a finger to press thetongue outwardly.

10. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom; a side wall joining each side of the bottom; a cover member halfthe width of the bottom joining the free edge of each side wall; anddownturned tucking flaps joining the free edge of the cover membersrespectively and disposed face to face with each other and each providedwith an end notch; each end wall being slit to form a tongue adapted tobe 40 pressed inwardly into the adjacent notches.

11. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls joining the ends of thebottom; each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having alower extension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side ofthe bottom; a side wall joining each side of the bottom exterior to andagainst adjacent connecting flaps; a cover member joining the side wallof half the width of the bottom; downturned tucking flaps joining eachcover members 51) and provided with registering end-edge notches eachhaving an upwardly faced inwardly inclined lower shoulder; said endwalls being provided, adjacent to said notches with U-shaped slits andopenings adjacent thereto, each slit forming r, downwardlypointedlocking tongue adapted to be pressed inwardly into the adjacent notchand having a'bluntlower edge engageable over said shoulders to hold thetucking flaps locked in place. m

' 121' A blank'fo'r making crates, said blank being blank-cut and scoredto form a bottom; end walls joining the ends ofthe bottom; a side wallabout as wide as the end wall, joining each side of the bottom; a covermember as long as said bottom 4 aoaaa'ra rectangular bottom portion: endwall portions foldably Joining the ends of the body portion; eachprovided at its free edge with a pair or slightly separated foldabiecover flaps; each end wall portion being provided at each end edge witha connecting flap. comprising a main portion as wide as the end wallportion, and about half the length of the bottom portion, and aninterlocking extension about half the width of the main portion and pronvided at its inner end with a transverse slot extending about halfthrough the extension, said slots of adjacent extensions opening atopposite edges, and each having an intermediately transverse fold line;a side wall portion, as long as the 1.", bottom portion and about aswide as the end wall portion, foldably joining each side edge of thebottom portion; a cover member of the same length as said bottom andhalf the width thereof, foldably joining the free edge of side wallportion; a tucking flap foldably joining the free edge oi each covermember and each provided with an end-edge notch each having an inwardlyinclined lower shoulder iaced away from the free edge of the flap; eachend wall being provided with U- shaped slit forming an inwardly'pointedlocking 5 tongue having a blunt free edge about the same distance fromthe outer edge or the end wall that the'notch is irom the inner edge 0!the tucking flap. A I

14. A crate comprising a bottom; end walls 1 joining the ends of thebottom, each having at its end edges a connecting flap each having anextension interlocked with an adjacent extension at the side of thebottom; one or more of said extensions being intermediately folded toform a trans- 15 verse partition member extending entirely across thebottom and provided with a transverse slot therein; and a longitudinalseparator interlocked in said slots.

WALTER 1". DALEY. 20

